Textile drafting apparatus



1964 R. B. NEWTON ETAL 3,156,953

TEXTILE DRAFTING APPJARATUS Filed March 12, 1962 7 z Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS RUSSELL B. NEWTON WILLIAM P.WARTHEN Nov. 17, 1964 R. B. NEWTONETAL 3,156,953

TEXTILE DRAFTING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1962 2 Sheetshee 2 FIE-3"INVENTORS RUSSELL B. NEWTON WILLIAM P. WARTHEN WEZ% United States PatentC) 5,156,953 TEXTILE DR- FTING APFARATUS Russcii it, Newton and WiiliamP. Warthen, Spartanhurg,

S.C., msigncrs to Deering Milliiren Research {Iorporation, Spartanburg,S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 178,885 16Claims. (Cl. 19-445) This invention relates to a textile handlingarrangement, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for use inthe drafting of a running length of textile fibers.

For a number of years in the textile industry, it has been the practiceto employ roll-type drafting systems in which there are two, three, ormore pairs of spaced-apart rolls driven at exceedingly faster ratesalong the flow path of the fiber mass passing therethrough in order toprovide a desired degree of drafting of the fiber mass. However, due tothe space limitations caused by required roll size, as well as otherlimitations, the spacing between the rolls has been such as to losecontrol of the fibers in the drafting zone between the succeeding rolls,and in order to overcome this difiiculty, the industry has adoptedgenerally the employment of a combined roll and apron-type draftingarrangement in which one or more aprons is employed for carrying andcontrolling the fiber mass to a point more close to the nip of asucceeding pair of rolls, particularly in such areas where high draft isto be achieved. However, while the conventional apron system doesprovide a material improvement and advantage in this respect, there isstill a space left between the nose end of conventionally employedapron-drafting systems and the succeeding adjacent pair of nip rolls,with consequent loss of control of the fibers in this space. This mayand commonly does result in the deterioration of quality of theresulting yarn formed from the fiber mass, as well as loss of fiberswhich may drop out from the fiber mass, including particularly shortfibers, in this free uncontrolled zone between the rolls or between thenose end of the apron assembly and the succeeding rolls.

It is a major feature of the present invention to provide an improvedarrangement in which support and guidance control is provided for thefibers along substantially the entire distance between two succeedingpairs of rolls, and particularly in the drafting zone immediatelypreceding the faster-driven rolls of two succeeding pairs of rolls.

A further feature is the cleaning of the bottom rolls of two succeedingpairs of rolls by a bridge device which serves also to support and guidethe fiber mass between the two pairs of rolls.

Still a further feature is the provision of an improved, multiplefunction cradle assembly and bridge element subassembly which eifectsroll cleaning and improved fiber support and control between spaceddrafting rolls, as well as apron cleaning and improved apron tracking,and cradle alignment.

According to the invention a multiple function fibersupporting andguiding bridge element is disposed between and carried in rubbingengaging relation on the bottom rolls of two succeeding pairs ofdrafting rolls, being preferably incorporated in an improved cradlearrangement including an apron-supporting and guiding element connectedto the bridge element. The novel bridge element serves two basicfunctions, one of which is the support and guiding control of the fibersbetween the respective succeeding pairs of rolls, particularly in thedrafting zone immediately preceding the front rolls of the respectiveadjacent pairs of rolls, and the second basic function being thecleaning of the fiber carrying peripheral portion of the two bottomrolis on which the bridge element lies. Additionally, in the preferredembodiment the bridge element serves to clean the exterior surface ofthe cooperating apron during the passage of the apron thereby along itsfiber-control run. The apron is preferably guided about a combinationroll-and-apron-cleaning and apron-positioning element disposed inguiding relation within the apron periphery and engaging in cleaningrelation both the apron interior and the respective aproncarrying roilsurface. Thus, there is effected in the preferred embodiment, cleaningof three rolls of two succeeding pairs of rolls, as well as cleaning ofthe apron interior and exterior, and improved guiding and support of thefiber mass along substantially the entire distance between the pairs ofrolls, and particularly in the important drafting zone immediatelypreceding the faster-driven second of the two pairs of rolls. Also, inthe preferred embodiment, the interfacing surfaces of the bridge elementand the apron and roll-cleaning and guiding and controlling elementsserve to aid in the guiding of the apron along its fiber-control run andthe guiding and control of the fibers along this run.

Still other objects and attendant advantages will be come apparent tothose skilled in the art from a reading of the following detaileddescription of two physical embodirnents constructed in accordance withthis invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a single drafting assemblyincorporating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section view of the arrangement of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the novel cradlearrangement of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section view of a modified and preferredembodiment according to the invention.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the preferred cradle assembly of FIGURE4.

FIGURE 6 is an inverted view in perspective of the upper element of thecradle assembly of FIGURES 4 and Referring nof to the figures of thedrawings, in each of the embodiments the invention is shown as appliedto a drafting system incorporating three parts of succeedinglyfaster-driven drafting rolls, including back rolls 11, 13, middle rolls15, 17, and front rolls 19, 21. Also, in each of the preferredembodiments, an apron is carried about the surface of roll 15 and isguided through a reduced radius nose zone adjacent roll 19 through themedium of a roll-and-apron-cleaning and apron-guiding element 25. Thecleaning and guiding element 25 is connected to a multiple purposebridge element 27 which extends be tween and rides, preferably insubstantiaily floating rela tion, on the peripheral surface of each ofpreferably smooth-surfaced roll 17 and front roll 21. In the embodimeritof FIGURES l3, the elements 25 .and 27 are removably-connected togetherthrough the medium of two side spacer brackets 29 which areadjustably-secured to the respective cleaning-and-controlling elements25, 27 through the medium of screws or studs 31, 33 engaging inadjustment slots 29a, 2% formed in the spacer bracket.

By adjustment of the bracket spacer element 29, the relative position ofsecuring screw 33 in the slot 29b will determine the spacing between theadjacent interfacing apron-guiding surface 25c of element 25 andapron-andfiber-guiding surface 270 of element 27. The slot 29a permitsiongitudinal adjustment of the element 25 with respect to the element27, thereby permitting closer or further apart spacing of the roll 15with respect to the roll 19. In operation, the element 25 may be eitherfixed in longitudinal position with respect to the element 27 or may bein floating longitudinal relation relative arsaees thereto. This may beeffected by either securing each of the screw elements 31 and spacerbrackets 29 tightly against the side walls of the element 25 or bysecuring the screw element 31 lightly, though securely, so as to permitfree movement of the screw along the slot 29a. In the latter instance astud or bolt may preferably serve the purpose, whereas in the formerlongitudinally self-seating instance the employment of a common securingscrew may be readily employed. It will be apparent, however, that whileone mode of securing and spacing the elements apart is illustrated inthis embodiment, there are various other ways of effecting thisconnection between the elements 25 and 27, either in fixed or adjustablerelation with respect to one another.

Preferably, the apron-guiding element 25 is provided with means in theform of side shoulders 25d which extend about the opposite ends of theboss portion of the roll 15, in order to impart lateral stability to theassembly 25, 2'7, 29 with respect to the rolls 15, 17, and the passageof the fiber mass F therebetween. Lateral stability for the apron 23 isprovided by the side spacer bracket elements 29.

Referring further to the apron-guiding element 25, this element has aroll-engaging concave cleaning surface 25a, an aprOnfiber-control-run-guiding surface 25c, a reduced diameter nose end 25:)and a return surface 25 thus guiding the apron in a tapered pathextending from the roll 15 to and from a nose position adjacent the roll19.

The cleaning and fiber control element 27 is, in this embodiment,illustrated as a block having two oppositely facing concaveroll-engaging cleaning surfaces 27a, 27b, with an intermediateapron-engaging-and-guiding and fiber-mass-supporting-and-controllingsurface 27c which entends from closely adjacent the roll 17 to thesurface of front roll 21. The fiber-supporting-and-controlling surface27c is preferably somewhat convex, as by forming thereon a chamfer or along smooth convex curve at or closely adjacent the entrance endthereof, as indicated at 27], in order to aid in feedthrough of thefiber mass between this surface and the adjacent fiber-control run'ofthe apron 23. It is preferable that the curvature and positioning of thesurface 27c, 27 and the adjacent interfacing surface 25b, be such thatthe apron-fibercontrol run will be guided upwardly from the point oftangency between the rolls 15 and 17, when the fiber mass F is passingtherebetween, as shown more particularly in FIGURE 2, in order to affordwhat has been found to be the best degree of control of the fibers inthis zone.

As a further aid to the proper passage of the fiber mass F between theapron 23 and the fiber-supporting and controlling surface 270 of theelement 2.7, there is preferably formed an undercut 27g at the entranceend of the concave surface 27a, thus providing a space of fromapproximately five to twenty-five thousandths inch depth andapproximately one-eighth to one-quarter inch in length. This is ofmaterial value in preventing the protruding fibers in the fiber massfrom being impinged between the roll periphery and the element thuscausing the entire mass of fibers to follow thereabout as the fiber masspasses from between the nip formed between the apron and the roll 17.The apron 23 is itself of material importance in moving the fiber mass Fpast this critical zone and along the further control path extendingbetween the apron and the surface 27f, 27c of the element 27.

It will thus be seen that the element 27 serves as a multiple-functionelement in which the concave surfaces 27a, 27b, not only stabilize theentire system 25, 27, 29, relative to rotation about the axis of eitherof rolls 15 or 17, but also" serve to clean the rolls 17 and 21 throughtheir rubbing engagement therewith, the element serving, through itsfiber-supporting-and-control surface 27 2%, the additional and mostvitally important function of supporting and controlling the passage ofthe fiber '4 mass F as it passes between the rolls 15 and 17 and therolls 19, 21. Particularly, it will be noted that the element 27,through its extended surface 27c serves to support and control the pathand passage of the fiber mass F in the important draft zone immediatelypreceding the nip of the rolls 19, 21.

In FIGURES 4-6, there is shown a preferred modification of theinvention, incorporating elements and 127 that correspond in functionand mode of operation to elements 25 and 27 of the preceding describedembodiment. In this embodiment, however, the eiements are removablyinterconnected through the medium of side ears 129 formed on the element125 and extending down about the side of the elements 127. The side ears129 have detents 12% formed thereon which engage with pocket recesses127i formed in the side walls of the center web portion of the cleaningand control element 127. While the detent and socket connection is shownwith the detent 12% formed on the ears 129 and the socket recesses 127iformed on the element 127, it will, of course, be apparent that this maybe reversed, and that other alternative methods of connection may alsobe employed, as for instance by passing a pin through the cars 129 andthrough a bore which may be formed in the element 127, or by employmentof screws or other suitable connecting or securing means.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGURES 4-6, the socket recesses 1271'are preferably longitudinally elongated in a direction parallel to thesurface 1270, so as to permit longitudinal self-adjustment of theelement 125 with respect to the element 127, and thus permittingself-adjustment to accommodate varying tolerances between the rolls 15and 19 or variations in diameter of the roll 15, or variations insetting between the rolls 15 and 19. Precisely complementary socket andrecess connections may, however, of course be employed if desired and ifno self-adjustment is necessary for a given instance of use.

The cleaning and controlling bridge element 127 in this embodiment hastwo cantilever legs 127m, 12711, which are connected by a central websection, and the entire element 127 may be formed of a material, such asDelrin, which is sufficiently elastic, though dimensionably stable, topermit the springing in of the legs 127m, 12711, for insertion andremoval of the element 127 between the rolls 17 and 21. Thus, theinsertion ofthis preferred element 127 differs frorn'the insertion ofthe preceding described bridge element 27 in the embodiment of FIGURESl3 in that the bridge element 127 may be snapped into and out ofposition, whereas the element 27 must be inserted into position by firstlowering such between the reduced diameter portions of the rolls 17 and21 and then sliding such laterally sideways to a position engagingbetween the boss portions of the rolls 17 and 21. It will be apparentthat the entire preferred embodiment of FIGURES 46 is more easily andquickly assembled and disassembled than the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3illustrating the basic principles of the invention.

In other respects, the arrangement of FIGURES 4-6 is substantiallyidentical to that of the first-described embodiment of FIGURES 1-3.Similar reference numerals are given to similarly functioning and shapedportions of the elements 125 and 127 as are given to the elements 25 and27 of the preceding embodiment, with the corresponding portions ofelements 125 and 127 numbered in the 125 and 127 series, whereas thepreceding embodiment portions of the elements 25 and 27 are numbered inthe 25 and 27 series.

While the invention has been described with respect to only two physicalembodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and improvements thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, thefiber control surface 270 or 1270 of the element 27 or 127 may haveformed thereon a tapered fiber-condensing groove, if desired. Further,the element 27 or 127 or both elements 25 or 125 and 27 or 127 may belaterally traversed transverse to the direction of the fiber flow pathas by a traverse rod, if desired, rather than being maintained againstsubstantial transverse lateral movement as in the two illustratedembodiments. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited by the particular illustrative and preferredembodiments disclosed herein, but onl by the scope of the appendedclaims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A drafting assembly comprising two spaced-apart pairs of draftingrolls, an endless fiber-control apron disposed about one roll of onepair of said rolls and extending between said one roll and an adjacentroll of the other of said pair of rolls, means guiding said apron toform a nose end between said one roll and said adjacent roll, said apronhaving a fiber-controlling run extending between said one roll and saidnose end thereof, said means guiding said apron including a portion inapron cleaning and supporting engagement with said fiber-controllingrun, and a fiber-supporting-and-guiding bridge element extending betweenand engaging in supported relation to the respective surfaces of theother two of said pairs of rolls, said bridge element having oppositelyextending concave roll-engaging surfaces formed at opposite ends thereofand being in floating supported relation on its respectively oppositelyengaged rolls.

2. The structure of claim 1 including means supplying a fiber mass to bedrafted between one of said spaced apart pairs of rolls, said bridgeelement being undercut adjacent the engaged roll of said pair of rollsbeing supplied said fiber mass to aid in feedthrough of said fiber massbetween said bridge element and said apron, said undercut surface beingslightly spaced from the surface of said engaged roll.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said bridge element has afiber-supporting surface engaging with the exterior surface of saidapron along the fiber-engaging run of said apron, means supplying afiber mass to be drafted between one of said spaced apart pairs ofrolls, and said fiber-supporting surface of said bridge element havingan upwardly-inclined forward slope adjacent the engaged roll of saidpair of spaced pair of rolls being supplied a fiber mass to aid in thefeedthrough and control of said fiber mass.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bridge element has tworesilient cantilever legs, one of said oppositely facing concaveroll-engaging-and-cleaning surfaces being on each of said resilientcantilever legs.

5. A drafting assembly comprising two spaced-apart pairs of draftingrolls, an endless fiber control apron disposed about one roll of onepair of said rolls and extending between said one roll and an adjacentroll of the other of said pair of rolls, anapron-cleaning-and-guidingand-roll-cleaning element within the confinesof said apron, a bridge element engaging in cleaning relation andtherebetween the remaining two rolls of said pairs of rolls, and meansconnecting said elements together.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each of said elements has arespectively interfacing spaced-apart apron-guiding surface formedthereon, means supplying a fiber mass to be drafted between each of saidpairs of rolls, said apron-guiding surface on said bridge elementengaging directly the fiber mass passing thereby and being in directsupporting and guiding relation thereto, said apron-guiding surface onthe other of said elements engaging the interior surface of said apronpassing thereabout and thereby indirectly guiding and aiding in thecontrol of said mass of fibers.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said connecting means includesside connecting spacers and means connecting said side spacers to saidtwo elements, said side spacers having means thereon for varying thespacing between said elements and for longitudinal relative adjustmentof said elements.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein one of said elements hasformed on opposite sides thereof roll-engaging shoulders for lateralstabilization with respect to said rolls.

9. A drafting assembly comprising two spaced-apart pairs of draftingrolls, means supplying a mass of fibers between said drafting rolls ineach pair, an element between said pairs of rolls havingoppositely-facing concave surfaces, one of said concave surfacesengaging one of said rolls in one of said pairs of rolls, and the otherof said concave surfaces engaging another of said rolls in the other ofsaid pair of rolls, said element having a substantially planar surfacesupporting and guiding said fiber mass between said concaveroll-engaging surfaces.

10. A textile fiber-controlling-and-roll-cleaning device comprising anelement having two resilient legs, each of said resilient legs having aconcave roll-engaging-andcleaning surface facing in an oppositedirection from the concave surface on the other leg, and afiber-supportingand-guiding surface extending between said concaverollengaging-and-cleaning surfaces on said resilient legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 66,896Germany Feb. 3, 1893 2,695 Great Britain of 1872 104,818 Great BritainMar. 22, 1917 642,419 Great Britain Sept. 6, 1950

1. A DRAFTING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING TWO SPACED-APART PAIRS OF DRAFTINGROLLS, AN ENDLESS FIBER-CONTROL APRON DISPOSED ABOUT ONE ROLL OF ONEPAIR OF SAID ROLLS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ONE ROLL AND AN ADJACENTROLL OF THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF ROLLS, MEANS GUIDING SAID APRON TOFORM A NOSE END BETWEEN SAID ONE ROLL AND SAID ADJACENT ROLL, SAID APRONHAVING A FIBER-CONTROLLING RUN EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ONE ROLL AND SAIDNOSE END THEREOF, SAID MEANS GUIDING SAID APRON INCLUDING A PORTION INAPRON CLEANING AND SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIBER-CONTROLLINGRUN, AND A FIBER-SUPPORTING-AND-GUIDING BRIDGE ELEMENT EXTENDING BETWEENAND ENGAGING IN SUPPORTED RELATION TO THE RESPECTIVE SURFACES OF THEOTHER TWO OF SAID PAIRS OF ROLLS, SAID BRIDGE ELEMENT HAVING OPPOSITELYEXTENDING CONCAVE ROLL-ENGAGING SURFACES FORMED AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOFAND BEING IN FLOATING SUPPORTED RELATION ON ITS RESPECTIVELY OPPOSITELYENGAGED ROLLS.